FOUNDATION TIES Karen and Kenneth Chamberlain • Donors • Dr. Thomas S. Leary, Past President - Engineering Scholarship
‘When I get big, I’m going to go to Paw Paw’s school,’” said Karen.
Karen and Kenneth Chamberlain
Going to Paw Paw’s School Karen Chamberlain was just a little tyke when she first visited the White House. Of course, we’re not talking about the White House in Washington, D.C., but the White House in Lake Charles, home of McNeese State University’s president. For approximately 10 years, this house on Ryan Street was home to McNeese’s third president, Thomas S. Leary, Karen’s grandfather. Karen was born in Lake Charles but lived in central Louisiana along with her sister. The family traveled to Lake Charles often to visit Karen’s maternal grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. Thomas S. Leary. Her memories of the big White House are still vivid. “We had all of our Christmas’ there. We came to Lake Charles for every holiday, so all of my childhood memories of the holidays are in that house,” said Karen. In 1961, Dr. Leary was recruited from the Cities Service Company (Citgo) to become associate professor of engineering in the Department of Physical Sciences. Dr. Leary came to McNeese with considerable industry experience as well as strong academic credentials that included undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic and a doctorate in chemical engineering from Iowa State University.
Under Dr. Leary’s leadership, the Department of Engineering and the William T. and Ethel Lewis Burton Computation Center were established. The engineering program was originally located at the Chennault airbase after its closing. According to his daughter, Patricia “Pat” Leary Duhon, “He begged and borrowed old desks, typewriters, tables and other equipment to set up classrooms and offices…literally scrubbing floors, windows, moving and cleaning furniture, and doing all the other things needed to get a college department set up.”
Recently Karen and her husband, Kenneth Chamberlain, established the Dr. Thomas S. Leary, Past PresidentEngineering Scholarship to honor a beloved grandfather and role model. While Kenneth never had the opportunity to know Dr. Leary personally, he recognized how important Karen’s grandfather was in the lives of their family. The Chamberlains have secured matching funds from Kenneth’s employer to build the scholarship. “It was the first time we realized that for a very reasonable amount, you could start a scholarship. I always wanted to do something to honor my grandfather’s years and service at McNeese,” said Karen. By the time Karen enrolled at McNeese, her grandfather had retired from the University. “He took me around and introduced me to people when I came for my orientation. I was the first grandchild to attend McNeese,” said Karen. In total, four Leary grandchildren have now graduated from McNeese State University and two great-grandchildren are currently enrolled. Being a firstgeneration college graduate himself, Dr. Thomas Leary’s leadership created quite a legacy for his descendents in choosing McNeese State University.
Leary became McNeese President on Oct. 15, 1969. McNeese State College became a university under his reign. As president, Dr. Leary never strayed far from his passion for education. Quoting from Dr. Joe Gray Taylor’s book, McNeese State University 1939-1987, A Chronicle, “Thomas Leary could justifiably take pride in his accomplishments as an educational administrator.” “Paw Paw was just so proud to be president. His office was in the round building (Smith Hall) and we would often go by to visit. He got the biggest kick out of having his own bathroom. We used to stand out on the balcony at the White House and watch the band practice across the street. I remember standing on the balcony and saying,
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas S. Leary 3